The Impact of Bilateral Stone Disease on Patients' Disease Progression and Health-Related Quality of Life.

Purpose: Patients with recurring kidney stone events can expect significant morbidity and functional impairment. Few studies have evaluated the effect of bilateral kidney stones on disease progression and quality of life. We wanted to determine the association of bilateral stone disease on age of onset, and the impact on number of stone events and individual kidney stone disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by analyzing the validated and prospectively collected Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life (WISQOL) database. Materials and Methods: We studied 2906 stone patients from 16 centers in North America after having completed the WISQOL questionnaire from 2014 to 2019. Kidney stone formers were assessed if kidney stones were bilateral or unilateral on imaging. Analysis with a chi-square test compared categorical variables. Bilateral kidney stone disease and its impact on HRQOL were evaluated through a multivariable linear regression model. Results: Of 2906 kidney stone formers, 1340 had unilateral kidney stones and 1566 had bilateral kidney stones. We observed more frequently that patients with bilateral stones had an increased number of depression/anxiety symptoms, renal tubular acidosis, and rheumatoid arthritis (all p < 0.05). Patients with bilateral stones had a younger mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of kidney stone disease onset (37.2 ± 15.8 vs 46.4 ± 15.9 years of age, p < 0.001). Bilateral kidney stone formers had a higher mean (SD) number of stone events (11.3 ± 21.8) than unilateral kidney stone formers (3.0 ± 5.1) (p < 0.001). Within our multivariable analysis, we found that HRQOL was negatively affected by the presence of bilateral stones for kidney stone patients (ß = -11.2 [confidence interval: -19.5 to -3.0] points, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Bilateral kidney stone formers had a younger age of kidney stone disease onset and a higher number of stone events compared with unilateral kidney stone disease formers. The presence of bilateral kidney stone disease negatively impacted HRQOL.

Performing urological inpatient procedures as same-day procedures during the COVID pandemic A retrospective feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: In line with Canadian provincial directives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain elective urologic surgical cases that are normally performed as inpatient procedures were performed as same-day discharge procedures to reduce hospitalization and the usage of scarce healthcare resources. Since the pandemic, we began performing laser enucleation of the prostate (LEP), robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL ) as outpatient surgeries. This was supported by recent evidence demonstrating the safety and feasibility of performing these minimally invasive surgeries as same-day procedures. As such, we sought to retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety during the COVID-19 era at our institution for same-day discharge LEP, RARP, and PCNL procedures. METHODS: All patients operated for LEP, RARP, or PCNL between May 2020 and March 2022 at two academic institutions were included. Surgeries were classified as planned same-day discharge or inpatient surgery. Same-day discharge patients were compared to inpatients for each procedure type. This comparison assessed the occurrence of same-day failure, postoperative complications, and re-admission rates at 30 days. This study was approved by the scientific ethics committee of the Centre de Recherche de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM). RESULTS: A total of 413 subjects were included in this study. Among LEP patients (n=169), 104 (62%) were identified as same-day procedures and 65 (38%) were inpatient. Among RARP patients (n=194), 46 (24%) were identified as same-day procedures and 148 (76%) inpatient. Among PCNL patients (n=50), 38 (76%) were identified as same-day procedures and 12 (24%) were inpatient. Of the patients who underwent planned same-day LEP, RARP, and PCNL, 77.9%, 73.9%, and 71.1% were successfully discharged home, respectively. Patients who underwent LEP as inpatients had a higher incidence of overall postoperative complications compared to same-day LEP (23.1% vs. 8.7%, p=0.017). The rates of 30-day emergency department (ED ) visits and hospital re-admission were similar between inpatient and same-day LEP (9.2% vs. 3.8%, p=0.27; and 4.6% vs. 1.0%, p=0.32, respectively). Inpatient RARP, however, was associated with more 30-day ED visits compared to same-day procedures (17.4% vs. 4.1%, p<0.01). No statistically significant differences were found for postoperative complications (15.2% vs. 6.1%, p=0.097) and re-admission rates (1.4% vs. 4.3%, p=0.51). There were no significant differences on overall postoperative complications, 30-day ED visits, and re-admission rates in inpatient vs. same-day PCNL. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that same-day discharge for LEP, RARP, and PCNL is safe and feasible in select patients, with an acceptable complication rate. These results should be validated in a larger, prospective clinical trial comparing same-day and inpatient procedures.

Rates of synchronous advanced neoplasia and colorectal cancer in patients with colonic serrated lesions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Serrated lesions (SL) have been associated with significant risks of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Data on synchronous findings after SL detection during colonoscopy is limited. Study aim was to evaluate the rate of synchronous advanced neoplasia (S-AN) and synchronous CRC (S-CRC) in colonoscopies where SLs were detected. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of screening aged patients 45-74year with colorectal SL (sessile serrated polyp [SSP] or traditional serrated adenoma [TSA]) detected during an elective colonoscopy. Primary outcome was risk of S-AN in patients with SL. Secondary outcomes included risk of S-AN or S-CRC stratified by SL characteristics. RESULTS: The study included 1262 patients with 1649 SLs (1214 with SSPs and 48 with TSAs). 47.2% were female and 22.9% of exams were screening colonoscopies, 48.2% surveillance, 28.9% diagnostic. The overall rates of S-AN and S-CRC were 15.1% and 1.3%, respectively. Presence of SSPs ≥ 10 mm was associated with higher rates of S-AN, (18.1 vs. 12.2%, Odds-Ratio [OR] = 1.61 [95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.17-2.23], p = 0.004). SSP dysplasia was predictive of S-AN, (30.3 vs 14.1%, OR = 2.68 [95%CI 1.24-5.78], p = 0.012) but not S-CRC. SSP number (≥ 3) and location (proximal) were not predictors of S-AN or S-CRC. CONCLUSION: Patients with SLs are at high-risk of S-AN and S-CRC. Findings of SSPs ≥ 10 mm and SSP dysplasia are associated with high-risk of S-AN. Endoscopists should exercise heightened vigilance for synchronous findings when SLs are detected, especially SSPs ≥ 10 mm or when bowel preparation is suboptimal. Studies contrasting synchronous risk of other polyp types are needed to confirm these results.

Risk of total metachronous advanced neoplasia at surveillance colonoscopy after detection of serrated lesions: a matched case-cohort study.

BACKGROUND : Serrated lesions are potential colorectal cancer precursors. This study evaluated the presence of total metachronous advanced neoplasia (T-MAN) at follow-up in patients with index serrated lesions compared with a matched cohort without serrated lesions. METHODS : Patients aged 45-74 years with serrated lesions were matched 2:1 by sex, age, synchronous polyps, and timing of index colonoscopy, to patients without serrated lesions. The primary outcome was T-MAN (advanced adenoma or high-risk serrated lesion) at follow-up. Secondary outcomes included presence of T-MAN stratified by synchronous polyps and serrated lesion characteristics. RESULTS : 1425 patients were included (475 patients, 642 serrated lesions; 950 controls; median follow-up 2.9 versus 3.6 years). Patients with serrated lesions had greater risk of T-MAN than those without (hazard ratio [HR] 6.1, 95 %CI 3.9-9.6). Patients with serrated lesions and high-risk adenoma (HRA) had higher risk of T-MAN than those with HRA alone (HR 2.6, 95 %CI 1.4-4.7); similarly, patients with serrated lesions plus low-risk adenoma (LRA) had higher risk than those with LRA alone (HR 7.0, 95 %CI 2.8-18.4), as did patients with serrated lesions without adenoma compared with no adenoma (HR 14.9, 95 %CI 6.5-34.0). Presence of proximal sessile serrated lesion (SSL; HR 9.3, 95 %CI 5.4-15.9), large SSL (HR 17.8, 95 %CI 7.4-43.3), and proximal large SSL (HR 25.0, 95 %CI 8.8-71.3), but not distal SSL, were associated with greater risk for T-MAN. CONCLUSION : Patients with serrated lesions had higher risk for T-MAN regardless of synchronous adenomas. Patients with serrated lesions and HRA, and those with large or proximal SSLs, were at greatest risk.

Cardiometabolic side effects of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is widely employed for treatment of advanced prostate cancer and it is considered the frontline therapy. However, the numerous adverse reactions associated with this treatment option are concerning and its potential association with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) should not be overlooked. In this review, we examine the literature on the cardiovascular side effects of ADT and the physiologic mechanisms underpinning the association with CVD. We will also specifically discuss the different findings regarding the interesting potential disparity in major cardiovascular events among GnRH agonist-treated patients compared with patients undergoing GnRH antagonist treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: Androgen-deprivation therapy increases the risk of developing CVD by altering the body composition, metabolism, vascular system, and cardiac physiology. GnRH agonists may pose a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity than GnRH antagonists; however, this link remains to be determined. Furthermore, screening for cardiovascular risk factors before and during ADT treatment is a crucial step in preventing major adverse cardiac events in prostate cancer patients. Notably, preexisting CVD and comorbidities have been identified as major key elements predicting cardiovascular events. Early implementation of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment strategies is strongly suggested, and regular follow-up visits should be scheduled to continuously assess patients' cardiovascular risk under ADT. SUMMARY: ADT is a very powerful treatment option for advanced prostate cancer that improves survival outcomes but has the potential of considerably impacting patients' cardiovascular health. Medical optimization and close monitoring are crucial during treatment with ADT.